zztush
Well-known member
I like friction tuners on my ukuleles especially soprano. But I sometimes frustrate to tune strings with electric tuners, because they are too accurate. Gotoh UPT tuner looks same as friction tuner but it is planetary tuner, which has 1:4 gears inside. Very easy to tune and stay long as geared tuners.
We just need three items.
1) UPT tuners: Gotoh has two planetary tuners, UPT and UPTL. The UPT manufacturer recommended head thickness is 10-12 mm. UPTL is 11.5-13.5 mm. If you have 12 mm thickness, both works, but UPT is better than UPTL. Because we don't need extra length of tuner pole.
2) Taper pin reamer: I use 3-15mm one. Any taper pin reamers around this size are ok.
3) Drill
Instractions
1) Remove the friction tuners.
2) Expand the holes around 10mm with reamer both side of headstock (see the left figure above) . Headstock wood is very light and very easy to cut.
3) Drill a small hole next to the tuner hole (see the right figure above). The location of the small hole is easy to identify by UPT's thorn, which prevent to turn the tuner on the headstock.
4) Set up tuners.
I have installed 5 sets of UPT tuners for me and my friends. Very good tuner and install is quite simple.
We just need three items.
1) UPT tuners: Gotoh has two planetary tuners, UPT and UPTL. The UPT manufacturer recommended head thickness is 10-12 mm. UPTL is 11.5-13.5 mm. If you have 12 mm thickness, both works, but UPT is better than UPTL. Because we don't need extra length of tuner pole.
2) Taper pin reamer: I use 3-15mm one. Any taper pin reamers around this size are ok.
3) Drill
Instractions
1) Remove the friction tuners.
2) Expand the holes around 10mm with reamer both side of headstock (see the left figure above) . Headstock wood is very light and very easy to cut.
3) Drill a small hole next to the tuner hole (see the right figure above). The location of the small hole is easy to identify by UPT's thorn, which prevent to turn the tuner on the headstock.
4) Set up tuners.
I have installed 5 sets of UPT tuners for me and my friends. Very good tuner and install is quite simple.